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Specification:

• AQA Component 3.1.2.3: Political parties: the origins, ideas and development of the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties and how these have helped shape their current policies

• Edexcel Component 1 (UK Politics): 2.2 Established political parties: The origins and historical development of the Conservative party, the Labour party and Liberal Democrat Party, and how this has shaped their ideas and current policies on the economy, law and order, welfare and foreign affairs

Background: what you need to know

This article looks at the Starmer government’s options for curbing the rising cost of disability and sickness benefits. This is being pitched as a test of the prime minister’s authority. Cutting welfare benefits is difficult territory for a Labour government.

Starmer has the support of a group of Labour MPs who want to improve the incentives for people to return to work. However, many are uneasy about proposals which may adversely affect the livelihood of disadvantaged members of society.

Click the link below to read the article and then answer the questions:

Keir Starmer defends planned welfare cuts to anxious Labour MPs

Question in the style of AQA Politics Paper 1

• The Labour party has moved away from the ideas and policies of socialism in recent years.’ Analyse and evaluate this statement. [25 marks]

Question in the style of Edexcel Politics Paper 1

• Evaluate the view that the Labour party has moved away from ‘socialism’ in recent years. You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way. [30 marks]

  TIP: Edexcel recommend that you study four main policy areas for each of the three main UK parties — the economy, law and order, welfare and foreign affairs. For each of these, you need to assess how far Starmer’s Labour party has departed from traditional socialist commitments. Make sure that you begin with a working definition of ‘socialism’.

Graham Goodlad, Portsmouth High School